Attachment for fork-lift trucks



April 27, 1965 T. VANDER WAL ATTACHMENT FOR FORK-LIFT TRUCKS Filed July 9, 1963 INVENTOR. 755M; 147N052 W44.

W a? W ATTORN Y United States Patent 3,180,513 ATTACHMENT FOR FORK-LIFT TRUCKS Tuenis Vander Wal, 1432 W. Madison St., Milwaukee 4, Wis. Filed July 9, 1963, Ser. No. 293,621 1 Claim. (Cl. 214-620) This invention relates to improvements in attachments for fork-lift trucks, and more particularly to a novel attachment of the hinged plate type.

An object of the invention is to provide a device of the type which can be quickly attached to a fork-lift truck and is useful for quick unloading of articles previously placed thereon.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hinged plate which will tilt and deposit its load when the fork-lift truck is backed away a limited distance.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which- FIG. 1 is a side view in elevation of an attachment embodying the invention engaged with a lift truck which has backed suificiently to tilt the plate for load deposit.

FIG. 2 is a similar View with the plate in supported level position.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view from above of the inverted tilt plate.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral refers to the device generally, comprised of a base plate 11, rectangular in form and having a pair of rectangular channels 12 and 13 subjoined thereto to receive the prongs 14 of a fork-lift truck 15. A tilt plate 16 is hinged at 17, 18 and 19 to the base plate 11, with the larger portion 20 of the tilt plate 16 disposed oppositely to the base plate. An eye 21 under the base plate 11 secures an anchor chain which is attached at its opposite end to the fork assembly 22.

In use, the prongs 14 are pushed into the channels 12 and 13 sufliciently far to maintain the plate portion 29 substantially level, whereupon the tilt plate 16 may be loaded as desired. The truck may then transport the a load to the desired location. When it is desired to unload the tilt plate 16, the truck is backed until the prongs 14 clear the plate portion 20, which will then allow said plate to tilt and deposit the load. The anchor chain 23 will prevent the loss or displacement of the base plate from the prongs.

It will be understood that the device is capable of many modifications in structure and design, without departing from the spirit of the invention, Within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

An attachment for fork-lift trucks with load supporting fork prongs, comprising a rectangular base plate, channel forms subjoined thereto to admit the fork prongs of a lift truck and project therethrough, and a tilt plate disposed thereon and hinged cit-center to the frontal edge of said base plate whereby said tilt plate will tilt about a horizontal axis away from said truck when said prongs are partly withdrawn.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 770,020 12/04 Hampton 214-383 X 2,126,387 8/38 Hinds 214-356 2,482,692 9/49 Quales et al. 214-620 2,517,938 8/50 Stevenson 214-514 X 2,552,713 5/51 Flower 214- X 2,582,759 l/52 Sass 214-620 2,670,865 3/ 54 Merrick 214-620 2,738,222 3/56 Needham 214-620 X 2,929,523 3/60 Cushman 2l4-62l 2,957,594 10/60 Brennenian 214-750 X FOREIGN PATENTS 764,983 l/ 57 Great Britain.

HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner,

MORRIS TEMIN, Examiner. 

